Integrating Structure and Function in Conceptualizing and Assessing Pathological Traits

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ (5th Edition) Alternative Model of Personality Disorders includes a dimensional trait model to describe individual differences in the manifestation of personality pathology. Empirically derived quantitative trait models of psychopathology address many of the structural problems of classical diagnostic schemes (e.g., non-binary distributions, excessive comorbidity, diagnostic heterogeneity). However, they are largely based on the structure of individual differences in the manifestation of psychopathology. In contrast, clinical theories of personality disorder, which are the foundation of intervention efforts, are based on the function of maladaptive behavior. This distinction is akin to the difference between morphology and physiology in the broader biological sciences. A structure-function divide in the focus of empirical and clinical work contributes to a lack of integration and difficulties with translation. Here we discuss this tension and argue for the need bridge this divide and adopt research efforts that integrate structure and function of personality traits. Specifically, we suggest that between-person structure identifies the principal domains of functioning, but to understand dysfunction personality must be conceptualized and studied as an ensemble of contextualized dynamic processes.

Culture, lay science, and analogies: Westerners think X -> Y, Easterners think X :: Y

Myriad research establishes that Easterners think more holistically (i.e., attend to the “big picture” of how the world fits together and rely more on intuition) than Westerners do. Yet little is known about how Easterners integrate, structure, and make sense the information gleaned through holistic thinking. This paper proposes that, compared to Westerners, Easterners may rely more on analogical reasoning to integrate information and gain a sense of understanding their worlds. Four studies provide evidence that Easterners rely more on analogical reasoning that Westerners do. Compared to Westerners, Easterners found it easier to generate analogical explanations for understanding an outcome, preferred analogical to non-analogical explanations, showed some evidence of being more likely to spontaneously apply analogical solutions to the Duncker ray tumor problem, and tended to use more individual analogies in cultural products like children’s stories. Easterners, however, did not show evidence of being better at highly structured analogical reasoning (e.g., the Raven’s matrices) than Westerners. These findings suggest that Easterners and Westerners may both be able to reason analogically when required, but Easterners may spontaneously rely more on analogical reasoning to gain a sense of understanding of the world.

Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy—Enabling Innovative Solutions for Buildings of the Future

The additive manufacturing integrated energy (AMIE) demonstration utilized three-dimensional (3D) printing as an enabling technology in the pursuit of construction methods that use less material, create less waste, and require less energy to build and operate. Developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in collaboration with the Governor's Chair for Energy and Urbanism, a research partnership of the University of Tennessee (UT) and ORNL led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), AMIE embodies a suite of innovations demonstrating a transformative future for designing, constructing, and operating buildings. Subsequent, independent UT College of Architecture and Design studios taught in collaboration with SOM professionals also explored forms and shapes based on biological systems that naturally integrate structure and enclosure. AMIE, a compact microdwelling developed by ORNL research scientists and SOM designers, incorporates next-generation modified atmosphere insulation (MAI), self-shading windows, and the ability to produce, store, and share solar power with a paired hybrid vehicle. It establishes for the first time, a platform for investigating solutions integrating the energy systems in buildings, vehicles, and the power grid. The project was built with broad-based support from local industry and national material suppliers. Designed and constructed in a span of only 9 months, AMIE 1.0 serves as an example of the rapid innovation that can be accomplished when research, design, academic, and industrial partners work in collaboration toward the common goal of a more sustainable and resilient built environment.

Positive Education and Student Development through Communication

Communication, both as a didactic process and as social interaction remains a current issue and an open field for research. It takes place in a subtle way in the world today, through various means and enjoys an active and passive reception from the different categories of public. Taking into consideration the educational impact of mass-media, which exert a growing influence in modern society, educational communication should be given a particular significance, because it must become the all comprehensive tool that will help the taught to integrate, structure, analyze the information already acquired. Didactic communication must be a cooperation between the student and the teacher, allowing the transmission of knowledge, integrating information in a framework of prior acquired knowledge and adding of new knowledge, at the same time enabling personal vision on the issues discussed. An open pedagogical communication, unrestricted by excessive formalism and useless rituals will increase participants' confidence in their ability to solve problems and accomplish tasks.

Structural Influences on Facies Trends of Carbonate Inner Ramp Systems, Examples from the Kuwait-Saudi Arabian Coast of the Arabian Gulf and Norhtern Yucatan, Mexico

ABSTRACT The value of integrating structural influences with sedimentology is identifying the significant changes that occur along strike and downdip. Understanding where and how these changes occur can have a profound influence on exploration risk assessment along inner ramp and inner shelf trends, particularly in the search for stratigraphic traps. Dip-oriented structural elements along depositional strike of inner ramps of the discussed areas include major fault zones, folds, smaller faults, and impact craters. These tectonic influences control often discontinuous facies distribution patterns of barrier islands, lagoons, sabkhas, and inner ramp carbonate factories. In contrast, strike-oriented structural influences often control the location of facies trends which promotes trend continuity. Wave-dominated Holocene and modern inner ramp deposits from southern Kuwait-northern Saudi Arabia and Northern Yucatan, Mexico, provide complementary models to the classic channelized ramp system of Abu Dhabi. Structural influences relative to coastal orientations control regional and local depositional styles, trend continuity/discontinuity, the location of carbonate factories and landward lagoon and tidal flat depositional characteristics. As reservoir-updip seal pairs for stratigraphic trap exploration, these analogues also demonstrate that changes along depositional strike should be expected, and in many cases could be predictable. These relationships emphasize the need to carefully integrate structure with facies and paleo-environmental reconstructions when mapping trends and assessing exploration risk in the search for stratigraphic and combination traps.